I apologize for not posting on here for quite some time. I have busy with essays and other loads of stress that I haven't been on the computer at all. This post is just to let all of my existent (or nonexistent) readers know that I'm still alive, and I haven't forgotten this blog.
I'm thinking about writing an essay about relationships, which I will post here. Please understand, if I ever post any of MY writing on here, you may not quote or steal any of my words. You can't take my essay and turn it into your teacher. This is called copyright infringement (which all original written works have), and it is also plagiarism if you use my words.
Now back to my essay, I have a couple things that I have been thinking about that seem feasible (at least to me). I would love to hear responses to this idea. I believe that relationships (whether social or romantic) are the cause of most disorder in society. We are so obsessed with impressing the significant other or the common "cool" friend that we forget about the relationship with ourselves and God (the only two relationships that we truly need). I think it's a good idea, and I'll try to find time to write this thing.
By the way, I also want to start my David Bowie reviews soon. Look for them. I'll probably have each blog headed with a quote from one of the songs and a big picture of the album cover will be at the top of the blog. I'll try to start from back to front, so "Reality" will be my first venture.
In the meantime, I will try to post another blog as soon as possible. I hope everyone has a great holiday season.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Friday, November 23, 2007
The Scarlet Letter...
Now I finally have time to blog! I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and a nice shopping experience during Black Friday. Today I'm going to talk about a book that I read recently in my sophomore advanced English class called The Scarlet Letter. This book had a profound effect on me and my thinking of adultery and hypocrisy.
Set in Puritan New England, Hawthorne's classic tale is a clever method of exorcism. It is Hawthorne's method for confronting his own demons. As anyone who truly knows the book is aware, Hawthorne's great-grandfather was responsible for some of the hangings during the Salem Witch Trials. Hawthorne was torn apart by this knowledge, knowing that his own relative was responsible for the deaths of many.
The Scarlet Letter is about choice and consequence just as much as it is about truthfulness and the effect of lies. The main character, Hester Prynne, chose to sin, and her consequence was to bear a scarlet letter, an A, meaning adultery. What makes the novel so interesting is how she is treated by the religious Puritans who consider adultery a capital offense. Moreover, her fellow sinner is one of these Puritans, a minister!
The Scarlet Letter's genius comes from its expert use of symbolism. Everything (I mean everything) stands for something else in this novel--the forest, the scaffold, the rose bush, the characters themselves. Never has a novel used symbolism so effectively!
I believe that The Scarlet Letter is a changing book. It shows the outcome of built up, unconfessed sin. It is also a highly influential and important book to have a knowledge of. If you have ever left a sin unconfessed, read this book! If you have ever been a victim of over religious hypocrisy, read this book!
Set in Puritan New England, Hawthorne's classic tale is a clever method of exorcism. It is Hawthorne's method for confronting his own demons. As anyone who truly knows the book is aware, Hawthorne's great-grandfather was responsible for some of the hangings during the Salem Witch Trials. Hawthorne was torn apart by this knowledge, knowing that his own relative was responsible for the deaths of many.
The Scarlet Letter is about choice and consequence just as much as it is about truthfulness and the effect of lies. The main character, Hester Prynne, chose to sin, and her consequence was to bear a scarlet letter, an A, meaning adultery. What makes the novel so interesting is how she is treated by the religious Puritans who consider adultery a capital offense. Moreover, her fellow sinner is one of these Puritans, a minister!
The Scarlet Letter's genius comes from its expert use of symbolism. Everything (I mean everything) stands for something else in this novel--the forest, the scaffold, the rose bush, the characters themselves. Never has a novel used symbolism so effectively!
I believe that The Scarlet Letter is a changing book. It shows the outcome of built up, unconfessed sin. It is also a highly influential and important book to have a knowledge of. If you have ever left a sin unconfessed, read this book! If you have ever been a victim of over religious hypocrisy, read this book!
Monday, November 19, 2007
Stress and other updates...
I apologize for not posting for some time (a week, I believe), but I have been under a great deal of stress. My English teacher has given us a project (a 25 page, 250 point project) that I have been working on for the time I have not posted. I just have not had the time, but I will try my best to post on here even under those circumstances.
As a sidenote, I 'll dedicate this blog just to give everyone a good deal abouting upcoming posts (these will most likely appear over the next couple of weeks). I have quite a few books that I have read and would like to review (they are not all positive reviews). These books are:
As a sidenote, I 'll dedicate this blog just to give everyone a good deal abouting upcoming posts (these will most likely appear over the next couple of weeks). I have quite a few books that I have read and would like to review (they are not all positive reviews). These books are:
- The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
- A Box of Matches by Nicholson Baker
- On Writing by Stephen King
- The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
There may be more, but I'll add them as I go. Look for a The Scarlet Letter review tomorrow. I also may review "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and "Epic Movie" (I have seen these quite recently).
Saturday, November 10, 2007
A random thought...
OK, so I was going to post a video here of one of my favorite videos ever, but that didn't work out too well, so, instead, I just have a few random thoughts.
I am convinced that no facility or society can function when it is oppressed by too many rules. I understand that rules are in place to shape this perfect view of life, but I believe that a lot of the rules that are placed upon us on a daily basis could be done away with. For example, my school has just adopted a dress which they hope will solve many discipline and academic problems. This dress code consists of wearing a collared shirt, khaki pants (and the shirt is tucked in the pants), and wearing specific colored belts and shoes. I have never been, nor never will be, a supporter of this uniform policy. In fact, I feel that it has done more harm than good. Kids are still sagging, girls are still unveiling what they want to unveil despite the specific nature of the new policy. My point: when you throw a bunch of rules on people they will either rebel even more, or they will do exactly what they have been doing in the first place. Contrary to popular opinion, rules do not solve problems.
One more example, I decided to get a portfolio bag to carry my papers and utensils in for school. The bag has a long strap with hangs off of your shoulder. I carried that bag around today and nothing was said to me. At the end of the day, I asked a dean whether the portfolio was appropriate to carry around. She said that it was a backpack, and it is against the rules to carry backpacks in my state because weapons can be concealed within them. First, I thought a backpack was something that has two straps and hangs behind you. Second, can't a harmful weapon be concealed in a girl's purse? Can't a weapon be concealed in an everyday binder? Can't a weapon be concealed within the pocket of khaki pants? I'm not saying that anyone at my school would use these methods to conceal a weapon, but they are entirely possible! This is just an example of how school safety has gotten out of hand. I know that my school is trying to keep me alive and well, but, as I've said before, when you place that many rules in front of people they will find a way around them.
I am convinced that no facility or society can function when it is oppressed by too many rules. I understand that rules are in place to shape this perfect view of life, but I believe that a lot of the rules that are placed upon us on a daily basis could be done away with. For example, my school has just adopted a dress which they hope will solve many discipline and academic problems. This dress code consists of wearing a collared shirt, khaki pants (and the shirt is tucked in the pants), and wearing specific colored belts and shoes. I have never been, nor never will be, a supporter of this uniform policy. In fact, I feel that it has done more harm than good. Kids are still sagging, girls are still unveiling what they want to unveil despite the specific nature of the new policy. My point: when you throw a bunch of rules on people they will either rebel even more, or they will do exactly what they have been doing in the first place. Contrary to popular opinion, rules do not solve problems.
One more example, I decided to get a portfolio bag to carry my papers and utensils in for school. The bag has a long strap with hangs off of your shoulder. I carried that bag around today and nothing was said to me. At the end of the day, I asked a dean whether the portfolio was appropriate to carry around. She said that it was a backpack, and it is against the rules to carry backpacks in my state because weapons can be concealed within them. First, I thought a backpack was something that has two straps and hangs behind you. Second, can't a harmful weapon be concealed in a girl's purse? Can't a weapon be concealed in an everyday binder? Can't a weapon be concealed within the pocket of khaki pants? I'm not saying that anyone at my school would use these methods to conceal a weapon, but they are entirely possible! This is just an example of how school safety has gotten out of hand. I know that my school is trying to keep me alive and well, but, as I've said before, when you place that many rules in front of people they will find a way around them.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Read between the lines...
Just to kill two birds with one stone, I'll let you know what kind of books that I like, authors that I find are highly talented etc.
I am a very big literature fan. I just finished The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne in English class, and I thought that it was just amazing. I love Shakespeare (Romeo and Juliet is in my top five best books of all time). I'll post thoughts on more specific areas, but this is just an overview.
My favorite book of all time is 1984 by George Orwell. Orwell is possibly the best writer to have ever taken up the pen. He writes with such vividness and the emotions in his books are plentiful. He is the type of writer that I want to be. 1984 is probably the most important piece of literature ever published. I have also read Orwell's Keep the Aspidistra Flying which I thought was ingenious.
If I had to pick one genre of literature that I like the most, it would have to be horror literature. I just like being scared (psychologically, not physically.) I believe that there are quite a few very good horror writers on the market today. The following are just a few I can think of off of top of my head:
I am a very big literature fan. I just finished The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne in English class, and I thought that it was just amazing. I love Shakespeare (Romeo and Juliet is in my top five best books of all time). I'll post thoughts on more specific areas, but this is just an overview.
My favorite book of all time is 1984 by George Orwell. Orwell is possibly the best writer to have ever taken up the pen. He writes with such vividness and the emotions in his books are plentiful. He is the type of writer that I want to be. 1984 is probably the most important piece of literature ever published. I have also read Orwell's Keep the Aspidistra Flying which I thought was ingenious.
If I had to pick one genre of literature that I like the most, it would have to be horror literature. I just like being scared (psychologically, not physically.) I believe that there are quite a few very good horror writers on the market today. The following are just a few I can think of off of top of my head:
- Stephen King. He's the King of Horror Fiction, hands down.
- Clive Barker. His writing is just plain poetic. This guy knows what he is doing.
- Douglas Clegg. I read one of Clegg's stories in a horror anthology quite a while ago. I was so excited about the story that e-mailed Clegg and told him how much I liked his story. He responded and recommended some of his books. I have read and/or collected quite a few of them.
- Richard Matheson. I think the no list-of-horror-gods is complete without Richard Matheson. He's a terrific writer. I loved I Am Legend and What Dreams May Come (actually I devoured the latter and cried all night after I finished). His son, Richard Christian Matheson, is very good as well.
- Richard Laymon. Laymon stories are nasty but oh so smart. I read his novel The Island recently and was both repulsed and satisfied at the same time.
OK, I'm missing about a million-trillion authors right now, but I'll post more once I think of them. My mind just isn't working today.
Music to my ears...
I'm sorry that I haven't posted for a day, but I was having trouble retrieving my password for blogger, which I have obviously changed.
I'm devoting this post to explaining my theory and tastes about music, and, maybe, how music affects my life.
First, let me say that I am an absolute music nut. I'm always listening to music, discovering music, reading about music etc... I'm not picky about what I like. I don't believe that only the pop stars from the seventies are worth listening to nor that all modern music is crap. There are just certain things that I find are not pleasing in some musical genres/performers.
Second, I am a David Bowie nutcase. I would give both of my legs to meet him and see him live! Unfortunately, I don't see either coming up in the near future. One project that I definitely want to do is to review all of his albums. When I do write these reviews, I will post them here. This blog is majorly a what-I-like-in-art kind of blog, and David Bowie will be a focal point in this blog because of that.
Third, I believe wholeheartedly that Arcade Fire is the best band that has come out of the 00's so far. I am definite raver and supporter of what the band is doing, and how, in my opinion, it is saving music right now. Their first album, "Funeral," was beyond amazing. I have not heard many modern songs that are written as well as Arcade Fire's songs. What makes it even better is that their lyrics are just as poetic as their music; I have heard that Win was actually planning on majoring in creative writing before he gained so much success from Arcade Fire.
Finally, let me just touch on some genres that don't like.
I'm devoting this post to explaining my theory and tastes about music, and, maybe, how music affects my life.
First, let me say that I am an absolute music nut. I'm always listening to music, discovering music, reading about music etc... I'm not picky about what I like. I don't believe that only the pop stars from the seventies are worth listening to nor that all modern music is crap. There are just certain things that I find are not pleasing in some musical genres/performers.
Second, I am a David Bowie nutcase. I would give both of my legs to meet him and see him live! Unfortunately, I don't see either coming up in the near future. One project that I definitely want to do is to review all of his albums. When I do write these reviews, I will post them here. This blog is majorly a what-I-like-in-art kind of blog, and David Bowie will be a focal point in this blog because of that.
Third, I believe wholeheartedly that Arcade Fire is the best band that has come out of the 00's so far. I am definite raver and supporter of what the band is doing, and how, in my opinion, it is saving music right now. Their first album, "Funeral," was beyond amazing. I have not heard many modern songs that are written as well as Arcade Fire's songs. What makes it even better is that their lyrics are just as poetic as their music; I have heard that Win was actually planning on majoring in creative writing before he gained so much success from Arcade Fire.
Finally, let me just touch on some genres that don't like.
- I hate country. Country is about death, alcohol, cows and cheatin' on your wife, and all of the above are just ridiculous. Country is a genre where the same three song structures are used over and over, and the vocals are all unified by the redneck ignorance. Sorry if I've offended you country lovers, but there just isn't anything special about country.
- I hate rap. Look, I respect all people's right to express theirselves and to listen to whatever they see fit, but I don't see the point in talking with a back beat. There just isn't anything that can be done with rap; it's a genre that focuses on many awful things. Among these things are disrespect to women, racism, hate, drug use, violence, we could go on and on.
- I hate musicians who get payed millions of dollars, but their songs are all the same. If you call yourself an artist, you have to do something different. I'm not going to point fingers all of time here, but I will say that Nickelback is just one of these artists that fits this criteria. Each and every single song of theirs has the same vocals, the same melody, the same song structure, the same feel, the same everything!
So there it is, my theory on music. What makes music good, in my opinion, is when it is something exciting, new, different, thought-provoking and emotional. There is no point in staying "safe" in music. Jump off of a cliff, fly through the air, do something to catch my attention and don't be another Nickelback!
P.S. I know that this was really long, and I'm sorry that I took your time. I promise that the majority of my posts won't be this long, but this is such an important topic which I feel needed to address.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Just to get us started...
Hi! My name is Tyler Evans, and I am new to blogging.
I am an avid art fan. I'm not just talking about the paintings and stuff like that; I'm talking about anything creative. I love music, literature, theater, film...basically anything artistic, and I would love to share my thoughts about new things that I encounter, and why I love them so.
I want to major in creative writing and/or English in college, so I am serious about the whole self-expression thing. I believe that there is nothing more beautiful then being able to express your thoughts and feelings. Creation is just a wonderful part of life, for, after all, we too were created.
So I hope you enjoy my blog (if you even care), and I hope that you come back to read it often.
I am an avid art fan. I'm not just talking about the paintings and stuff like that; I'm talking about anything creative. I love music, literature, theater, film...basically anything artistic, and I would love to share my thoughts about new things that I encounter, and why I love them so.
I want to major in creative writing and/or English in college, so I am serious about the whole self-expression thing. I believe that there is nothing more beautiful then being able to express your thoughts and feelings. Creation is just a wonderful part of life, for, after all, we too were created.
So I hope you enjoy my blog (if you even care), and I hope that you come back to read it often.
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